With many of the senior squad already working on the road to the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, EYOFs are seen as a crucial step in the development of aspiring stars, providing a multi-sport event experience helping them towards realising their own Olympic dreams.

The team, all aged between 15 and 17 years old, will compete across Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating and snowboarding in the Festival taking place from January 25 to 30.

The eight Alpine skiers - Jess Anderson, Jordan Fellows, Kirsty Guest, Anna Henderson, Sofia Iglina, Euan Kick, Robert Poth and Zak Vinter - will participate in the slalom and giant slalom events.

A trio of cross country skiers - Duncan Gibb, Lynne Gray and Beth Maclean - will contest seven medal events during the week, with classic, free and sprint races for both boys and girls before a mixed relay on the final day of competition.

The selected snowboarders - Glen Ironside and Ayla Thidling - will take part in snowboard cross, while the two figure skaters - Josh Brown and Danielle Harrison - will be involved in the short and free programmes.

"I loved watching the skiing at Sochi 2014 [Winter Olympic Games] last year and it's always great to see British athletes involved in the Olympic Games," said Anderson.

"My goal is to compete at the Olympic Winter Games one day and EYOF 2015 is a great opportunity for me to learn and experience a part of Olympic life.

"It's a huge honour to be selected and I can't wait to get out there."

Two-time Olympic gold-medal winning sailor, Sarah Gosling, is Team GB's Chef de Mission for the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival ©Getty Images






Ironside added: "Watching Team GB's snowboarders at Sochi 2014 was incredible and it's great to see the sport growing within the Olympic Movement.

"Jamie Nicholls, who made the Olympic slopestyle final, is a real inspiration for me and I'll be trying to take my next steps towards emulating him when competing for Team GB for the first time in Vorarlberg and Lichtenstein."

Sarah Gosling, the two-time Olympic gold-medal winning sailor, will lead the contingent of athletes as Chef de Mission.  

Gosling, who triumphed at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 in the Yngling class, is taking on her second role as Chef de Mission for Team GB, having previously led the delegation in the summer edition of the EYOF at Utrecht 2013.

"This is a great time to be a young British winter athlete following the success of Sochi 2014 last year," she said.

"EYOF 2015 provides the perfect springboard for budding winter Olympians to gain valuable experience at a multi-sport event and as part of Team GB.

"EYOFs such as this offer the chance for young athletes to experience life in an Olympic environment, mix with competitors from different sports and nationalities, and are given the chance to develop as individuals as well as athletes.

"These Festivals, and similar Olympic youth events, have helped shape the Olympic careers of Team GB stars such as Chemmy Alcott, who made her Team GB debut at EYOF 1999."

The Festival is set to welcome more than 900 competitors from 45 nations for five days of action in the Alps.

Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein are hosting the 12th winter edition of the EYOF with Team GB having sent athletes to the previous 11.

A total of eight disciplines will feature, with biathlon, ice hockey, Nordic combined and ski jumping completing the programme.

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